Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has revealed that Guyana earned roughly $1.3 billion from the production of brackish water shrimp for the period January to November 2023.
Speaking last week Saturday during a press briefing held at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Regent Steet Office in Georgetown on the overall performance of the agriculture sector, Mustapha said the earningd from brackish water shrimp was testament to his government’s focus on promoting food production and economic growth.
He said that the government has created policies to build on current programmes and provide cutting-edge, technology-based initiatives to further improve the fisheries sector, demonstrating its recognition of the sector’s importance. Guyana has recorded a total of 815,496 kilogrammes of shrimp being produced for the period between January to November 2023, according to data provided. This shows a 49 percent increase when compared to the 548,900 kilogrammes produced over the same period in 2022.
Mustapha highlighted that the production of brackish water shrimp, which is being conducted along the Corentyne Coast, continues to produce massive outcomes since its commencement.
“We are seeing more demands for these species of shrimp and we are seeing increased production. This is a tremendous achievement for us in the brackish water shrimp industry.
I am hoping that when the project would have completed in another six months, that we can increase production close to over 120,000 kilogrammes monthly, with the projects that are going on in Region Six,” he said.
Since 2020, the brackish water shrimp initiative had been promoted by President Irfaan Ali as an alternative means of earning and employment.
Thirty-three brackish water shrimp farms are currently under operation as a result of investments made over the past year and a half. The production of brackish water shrimp has increased from 10,000 kilogrammes to about 90,000 kilogrammes monthly.
In 2023, Guyana saw the highest marine production in the past 5 years, with over 42,000 metric tonnes.
In addition, harvesting of tambaqui has already commenced.
As part of the cage culture initiative, six cages are currently installed in communities such as Mashabo Mainstay, and Capoey. All the cages were stocked with tambaqui fingerlings.
In 2024, the government is expected to invest in an additional 50 cages. There are already plans in place for the decentralization of this initiative (cage culture) in other regions according to Mustapha.
He said community participation and site selection have already taken place in several locations throughout Regions Two, Five, Nine, and Ten.
“The government sees the fisheries sector as an important source of livelihood, employment, food, and nutrition for a large number of Guyanese,” he added.
Approximately $934 million were allocated to improve the agri-sector in the 2023 fiscal plan.
Onverwagt
Meanwhile, the minister said that work is progressing on the approximately $100 million prawn production project at Onverwagt, Region Five in keeping with the expansion of Guyana’s aquaculture industry.
The construction of 10 one-acre ponds has begun. To date, the first five ponds were dug and are being lined in preparation for production.
Mustapha reminded that all of these initiatives are in tune with Guyana’s target of reducing its food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025.
